Blogs

The nyckelharpa might be the duck-billed platypus of the music world. Swedish in origin, it combines the strings of a violin, the shape of steel guitar or violin and keys used to change tones or pitch. A cousin of the hurdy gurdy, this odd instrument always delights audiences.

If you think that was a silly question, read on. In the child development book Nutureshock, authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman devote an entire chapter to sibling relationships – and directly tie the way brothers and sisters treat each other to the books they read and the media they consume.

Check out this funny documentary at our upcoming film night at the library:

Get Bruce!(1999), Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-9 p.m., Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center

Award-winning gardener Chris Beardshaw, perhaps best known in the UK for his work on the BBC’s long running television series, Gardeners’ World, has released the results of a horticulture study he conducted with a group of students looking at plant growth and health. The study confirms what head-bangers and junior high science fair participants have known for decades: heavy metal music acts as a nutrient for healthy growth.

The Nebraska Territory was also treeless when pioneer J. Sterling Morton and his bride, Caroline, arrived there in 1854 from Detroit and staked a claim in Nebraska City. He became the editor of the town's newspaper and built a 52-room mansion based on the design of the White House.

Join the Denver World Music Studio and learn some Afro Cuban Rhythms: Drumming on Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at the Sam Gary Branch. Slap, tap, and move! Hand drums provided. We'll cover drumming from congas to the deep tradition of Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and music.

I first met Lukas when he was a wiggly 2-year-old and a regular at my toddler storytime. He's now a  5-year-old preschooler, so I don’t see him as much as I used to. A few weeks ago Lukas came to the library with his mom, Marta, on his spring break. During our craft activity after storytime, I was catching-up with Marta and learned Lukas now loves to draw.

Meeting at some point between science fiction, apocalyptic fiction, thriller, and contemporary fiction, these books take some of today's predictions and warnings about climate change and extrapolate. With Earth Day and the weather on many people's minds these days, it might be time to try one of these reads. They range from thought-provoking to thrilling!

The Odds Against Tomorrow, Nathaniel Rich

Here’s the thing-this was a brand new cutting edge phone (the Galaxy Note II) chock full of every manner of apps to amuse and enlighten me, and as they say, there’s an app for everything. One of my apps could have been a security app that would allow me to locate and retrieve my phone from the lucky thieves who happened upon it. But in all my technological wisdom, I had not activated a single app that could help me recover my phone. And so I never got it back.

Eaarth may be three years old but its message and forecasts sound like tornado warning sirens. By presenting myriad evidence of climate changes already underway McKibben describes the consequences of our 150+ year history of burning fossil fuels. Last year in Colorado we experienced the Waldo Canyon Fire on the edge of Colorado Springs, the High Park Fire outside of Ft. Collins, and severe drought conditions throughout much of the state. 2012 was the hottest year on the planet in human history!